Chattanooga: Defense argues reasonable doubt in home invasion trial

Attorneys for two men on trial for murder in connection with a home invasion and shooting death argued Wednesday that insufficient evidence in the case amounts to “reasonable doubt.”

Dequon Letray Boyd, 21, and Jemarow Deverius Tillison, 22, are charged with seven counts each, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and felony murder, in the shooting death of 31-year-old Casey Woods on April 3, 2006.

The jury entered deliberations late Wednesday.

Mr. Boyd’s attorney, Mike Little, tried to discredit key witness Darlisa Wynn, who identified his client in a line-up, by pointing out inconsistencies between her testimony and what she originally told police.

He also challenged the strength of the state’s evidence against his clients as largely circumstantial.

“Just because they say it’s so, doesn’t mean it’s so,” Mr. Little said.

The prosecution says the two defendants were part of a sophisticated armed robbery plot in which “a band of men” dressed in black broke into the house at 1909 Rawlings St., where Ms. Wynn and her fiancee, Mr. Woods, were playing a board game with friends.

The men demanded money, according to testimony from Ms. Wynn, then opened fire. Ms. Wynn was hit in the leg. Mr. Woods was hit in the head and died two days later, records show.

A police officer patrolling the area heard the shots and chased two 2001 Dodge Intrepid sedans leaving the scene, according to the affidavit. Police caught Mr. Boyd and Mr. Tillison fleeing one of the cars, police records show, but a third person never has been found.

On Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson scrolled silently through slides depicting photos of the bullet holes in the walls of the apartment living room, finally landing on an X-ray of a bullet lodged in a skull.

“They turned that living room with five people into a war zone and killed Casey Woods,” Mr. Patterson said.

Ms. Wynn said she was ready for the ordeal to be over.

“All I want is justice to be served ... so I can have some closure in my life and go and put some flowers on Casey Woods’ grave,” she said.